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Matt Vensel's Penguins chat: 07.28.21
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Matt Vensel
8:24
Happy first day of free agency, Penguins fans. The next 48 hours will be interesting, even if the team doesn't make a truly major move. There's a few things on their shopping list and they had only $7.4 million in projected cap space entering the day, per Capfriendly. Anyway, we'll get going around 9 a.m. Got a question? Shoot it over whenever.
IcemanII
8:57
Matt, do you think the Pens would show any more interest in Fleury if his agent said he was willing to take a pay cut or spread his salary over a multi-year deal?
Matt Vensel
9:00
Iceman, I reported last night that the Penguins would not pursue Marc-Andre Fleury and focus on other options in goal. Reports say Fleury would welcome a return to Pittsburgh but Chicago acquired him to be their No. 1 goalie and surely aren't going to turn around and give him away a day later. The Penguins, meanwhile, can't get caught waiting around to see how that situation resolves itself. Plus, $7 million is a sizable chunk of salary cap space anyway. As for your question, NHL contracts cannot be restructured like that. The only way that would work is if the Blackhawks bought him out but, again, they brought him in to be their goalie for what they hope will be a playoff team. Would be a great story if he returned to Pittsburgh to finish his career but it's not in their plans right now.
Guest
9:02
Who do you believe that the Pen's brass is pushing to move out?
Matt Vensel
9:04
The two obvious candidates to be traded to open up cap space for another player are Jason Zucker and Marcus Pettersson. Can't imagine either is a hot commodity right now given their respective contracts. As for guys who might be available in the right hockey trade, you wonder about Bryan Rust, who has one year left on his contract, or John Marino. Not saying it's likely either goes. But both players have value and could allow the Penguins to shake up the supporting cast if that's something they want to do.
9:07
Sorry for the pause. USA Hockey just officially confirmed that Mike Sullivan will coach the men's hockey team at the 2022 Olympics this winter. Congrats to Mike. Quite an honor.
mike N (Cola, sc)
9:08
who are we targeting with some size and "Bump"? The Pen's seem to have too much skill and not enough Meanness/ grit to hold their own when "the gloves come off".  There aren't any repercussions for going after our stars.
Matt Vensel
9:10
Mike, I don't have exact names for you because the new front office is extremely tight-lipped. But you can be sure that they're looking for at least one bruising blue-liner and a power forward type. I'm assuming they'll want somebody who can throw some quality haymakers but they'll still need to be able to skate and play hockey.
Jesse
9:10
Hey Matt! There seems to me that there are some similarities between how the penguins want to be built, similar to the 2009 team (size and skill but up tempo, also granted the core is older) rather then the 16-17 teams where speed was sought after  Do you feel like the trend in the NHL is similar in a way from 10 years ago where size and skill are more valued again? Thoughts?
Matt Vensel
9:13
Jesse, there is no question that the NHL is trending back towards strength and size after the Pens disrupted things in 2016 and 2017. Look at the demand for large defensemen, something I wrote about a couple of days ago. Guys like Rasmus Ristolainen and David Savard have fetched multiple picks in recent trades. Seattle went after our old friend Jamie Oleksiak along with Adam Larsson in the expansion draft. The Sabres took a 6-foot-6 defenseman first overall. So the Penguins aren't alone in looking to get bigger, particularly on the blue line. With limited cap space and trade assets, they may have to sort through the leftovers after the first few hours of the free-agent frenzy. But I do think they'll add a big body or two somehow.
Joe
9:14
Matt, what is Hextall doing? Appears to be nothing, which is what got him fired in Philly. Look, there’s Rutherford level of craziness and then there’s the polar opposite in Hextall. The Penguins need more help than he’s letting on. I doubt we’ll see a trade or free agent signing today
Matt Vensel
9:15
Joe, free agency hasn't even started! I understand your skepticism but let's give Ron Hextall a chance to enact his plan here.
Matt O.
9:15
Do you think Jonathan Quick is a likely trade candidate given the Hextall connection?  This question is not an endorsement of such a move.
Matt Vensel
9:19
I think he's a possibility, especially if the Kings eat some of his $5.8 million cap hit or take back a contract. I know Quick's numbers have declined behind some bad Kings teams and that the 35-year-old's gymnastic style might not be aging well. But he's a proven winner who could work well in tandem with Tristan Jarry. The Penguins could split the workload during the regular season, keeping Quick fresh and giving Jarry a chance to build himself back up. Then you go with the best option for the playoffs, assuming they get there. I'm not saying that's their best option. But it's certainly not their worst.
9:21
Any more questions for me, guys? I'll go grab a cup of coffee out of the kitchen real quick and see what you've got when I return.
kevin in Punxsy
9:27
Matt, have you heard anything about the Hexie/Burkie tandem being unhappy with J Marino, because his family keeps getting involved in how the Pens handle John, and he might be traded because of it??
Matt Vensel
9:31
Kevin, I have not heard that about the Marino family. I do know from profiling John his rookie year that they're good people. In terms of the hockey stuff, I think it's fair to say John took a step back last year. He was inconsistent, not as steady with the puck on his stick and got dropped down to the third pair. I've heard that some within the organization feel that former GM Jim Rutherford was too quick to lock up Marino with that long-term contract last offseason. Jim was obviously betting that Marino would keep developing. Time will tell if he was right. But I don't get the sense they're just looking to dump Marino. If it was the right hockey deal, he might be moved.
Guest
9:32
Any chance Brandon Saad is someone they might be in on?
Matt Vensel
9:33
I do think there is real interest there. And it's unlikely he returns to Colorado now that they just locked up Gabriel Landeskog long-term. I'm not sure what Saad's asking price is. And the Penguins currently have two well-compensated left wings on the roster in Jake Guentzel and Jason Zucker. But Saad is definitely one to watch today.
Benson DuBois
9:33
Any way the Pens maintain status quo in goal?
Matt Vensel
9:34
The Pens want to upgrade it somehow so status quo would be a failure on their part. Expect them to bring in somebody.
Matt O.
9:35
Seeing all of these D-men traded over the past few days it seems curious that Pettersson couldn't be traded.  Some of those contracts that have been moved aren't great. Is it that Hextall isn't simply looking to unload for picks and the resultant cap space? If not, why not?
Matt Vensel
9:37
I'd think that of Marcus had decent trade value he would have been moved by now. That's been the most obvious trade to be made all along given the cap situation and the presence of P.O Joseph. Can't help but wonder if Pettersson's contract (four more years at $4 million AAV) has negative trade value and that the Pens have been reluctant to throw in a pick or prospect to move on from him.
9:41
Alright, folks. That's it for today. I've got to start monitoring the news. Should be a fun day. Thanks for the questions. We will do this again sometime in the next week, once we see how it all shakes out.
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